From the show offered in the stands of Louis-II, last Friday, to the show offered, Tuesday evening, in Basque lands, one thing is certain: Kylian Mbappé is an artist. Main actor in the psychodrama caused by his premature exit against AS Monaco, the French international (75 caps, 46 goals) this time abandoned selfies to have himself photographed by an entire stadium. Under the spotlight for several days, the man to whom we attributed a possible conflictual relationship with his coach, Luis Enrique, in fact responded with a decisive double during the round of 16 second leg of the Champions League against Real Sociedad (victory 2-1, 2-0 in the first leg). Determined, repositioned in his left lane and certainly stung in his pride by recent events, the Bondynois above all proved that his favorite playing field remained the green rectangle.
As a boss – or a good captain – the former Monegasque launched the reigning French champions perfectly. Served on the left by Ousmane Dembélé, the Ile-de-France number 7 played Igor Zubeldia and found, in a tight angle, the small opposite net of the Basque team (1-0, 15th). Enough to cheer up Anoeta and reassure, if necessary, the Parisian supporters. Weighed down from the quarter of an hour into the game, Real Sociedad subsequently witnessed what it could experience more regularly in the future when it crosses paths with Real Madrid, the announced future club of the French center forward. Irreproachable in his attitude, inspiring for his people in his desire and with constant involvement, Mbappé multiplied arabesques and relevant shifts. Devourer of space and this time found in depth by Kang-in Lee, the top scorer in the history of PSG presented himself alone against Alejandro Remiro and buried, for good, the hopes of the Txuri-urdinak (2- 0.56th).
Kylian Mbappé continues to panic the counters!
A decisive double allowing the person concerned to be, today, the co-best director in the Champions League with 6 goals, as many as a certain Harry Kane. Even more, with his 46th career achievement in the most prestigious club competition, Mbappé – involved in 35 goals in 32 away matches in the Champions League (24 goals, 11 assists) – also returned to the level of legend, Filippo Inzaghi, in the ranking of the best scorers in the history of C1 (11th). And if some still wanted figures… At 25 years and 76 days, the 2018 world champion is now the second youngest player, behind Lionel Messi (24 years and 257 days), to reach the 45-goal mark. More than these always confusing statistics, Mbappé has, moreover, proven that he has an unfailing mentality. Substitute in Nantes (February 17), replaced in Rennes (February 25) then against AS Monaco (March 1) and generally mistreated by his coach in recent weeks, the Frenchman made everyone agree, despite the recent statements by Luis Enrique.
“Sooner or later we will have to get used to playing without Kylian. And as a coach, my goal is always to find what is best for the team, what I consider to be best for the team.”, the Parisian coach had notably admitted before giving it another shot 24 hours before the match against Real Sociedad. Asked whether he was going to manage Mbappé in the same way in the Champions League as in Ligue 1, Luis Enrique did not hesitate to retort in an amused tone: “Yes of course. Why not ?” Clear exits even pushing many observers to wonder if the Bondynois would actually start at kick-off. A question finally brushed aside since the Parisian star played the entirety of this European clash. Credited with an 8 by the FM editorial team for his performance (9 duels won out of 15, 3 shots on target out of 4 attempted, two goals, 4 successful dribbles, one ball recovered) and logically elected man of the match, Mbappé above all put an end to the rumors of a sulfurous relationship with the ex-Barça tactician. Interviewed at the microphone of RMC Sport after this round of 16 return, the one who spoke last Saturday with his protégé to clarify his management did not fail to praise him.
Luis Enrique loved it, the locker room is a fan!
“Kylian still has the same investment”first greeted the 53-year-old Spaniard before adding: “we have no problems, we try to do the best for the team. Today he was exceptional, he played for his teammates. It’s a good time for all of us.”. Relaunched on the Parisian star at a press conference, he was, once again, rave, while suggesting that he would soon have to do without. “Mbappé does not need to be managed, he manages himself. Today he had a more fixed position than usual. Usually he has more freedoms. Today he was more on the left side. But against the goal, it is lethal. Is Kylian Mbappé still a central player? Kylian, I’m not finding out today. I already had my opinion on him, he is the best player in the world. He will score 50 goals, make 25 assists with any coach, any team. Apparently, its immediate future will not be there so we will have to test other solutions”. Key player in the Parisian qualification and proving, once again, that he remained essential, Kylian Mbappé also returned to his relationship with the Iberian.
“How are things going with Luis Enrique? Very well very well. There is nothing wrong with him, even though people may think there is a problem. I have many problems, but the coach is not one of them”, then soberly said the Parisian scorer. A positive communication therefore confirming the strong embrace in which this evening ended. “He is a player who is very involved in every training session and match. He’s a world-class player, extraordinary. Today, he has two, we are very happy”, noted Warren Zaire-Emery for Canal +. Passing through the mixed zone, Lucas Beraldo and Vitinha closed the ball of praise. “He’s a very important player. We need him on nights like this. We are sure that he will help us for the rest of the season.”indicated the Brazilian defender at the microphone of TNT Sports before being imitated by the Portuguese midfielder. “We are all very happy with him, it’s a privilege to play with him. He is still decisive and we want him to always be like that. What if he impresses me? Yes always, he acts as if it were easy but we know it is difficult but we are happy”. At Anoeta, Paris Saint-Germain qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Kylian Mbappé did much more…
